Mace:
You sound like you have experience on the flight deck, as do I, (Naval Aviator, 2 deployments to the Persian Gulf, lots of time at sea).  However, as sexy as the F-14 is (yes it looks good) the principle reason for such a large aircraft was the Pheonix missile and the AWG-9 Fire Control.  No other aircraft could carry the Phenoix, or simutaneosly track up to 10 bogeys at ranges up to 100 miles.
Yes the F-14 was a supurb dogfighter....butt.......
As a good friend of mine told me who flew F-14s in the fleet and was selected to instruct at Miramar (prior to the Marines taking it over)...."The finest fighter that I have ever flown (and he flew the aggressor F-5, A-4, and F-16N) was by far the F-16...".  "...All things being equal as far as pilot ability, the F-16 will fly circles around the F-14..".
Now I certainly don't have any love for the "AirFarce"  (Don't no one get offended, just a little interservice bantering) but they certainly hit the jackpot with the F-16.  
Oh, and they have really pretty bases with 18,000 Ft runways and great O-clubs and Golf courses. 


The Navy is restructuring the entire Air Wing.  Fewer disimilar airframes means less logistical cost across the board.  That is why the MH-60S and MH-60R helicopters are replacing the CH-46, SH-60F, HH-60H, SH-60B, and the SH-3s.  On the fixed wing side, the A-6 is gone, S-3, and F-14.  these will be replaced by the F-18 and the JSF.  Fewer disimilar airframes means increased savings in the budget.  
Do I think this is right?    Well lets just say that my position here in the Pentagon keeps me from expressing ALL of my true feelings about this.:/
Anyway, a lot of babble, didn't mean to run on.....The F-14 is sexy, big, loud and looks great in an Airwing fly-over.  But like anything else, it is time to retire them to allow for expanding technology and capability (god now I sound like my bosses here....eeek...

)
Not a sermon....Just a thought....
NAVCAD
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John Wayne says it best in "The Sands of Iwo Jima"..."Life is tough, but it's tougher when your stupid"